Official visit season is right around the corner and Maryland remains heavily involved with a number of key local players who are expected to return to College Park. The latest notes:
Two Team Race
Notre Dame is also in the mix but it’s a Maryland-Miami battle for Spalding (MD) there-star LB Keyshawn Flowers. Flowers have long sat high on Maryland’s inside linebacker board and with DC Brian Williams leading the way, ILB coach Lance Thompson was at Spalding on Monday checking on the local target. Miami also made its way through Spalding and along with telling Flowers he’s their number one ILB target, the Canes have pitched its potential NIL package in a way to entice him. The consensus is Flowers will love his visit to Miami as the ‘Canes press for a commitment, but there’s a heavy focus from those around Keyshawn to follow through on all three visits. Not in a way to deter him from the ‘Canes, but moreso for Flowers to not fall for the glitz and glamour as Miami will roll out the red carpet. Maryland also has an appeal with Flowers’ close connection to his family, especially to his brother Keion Flowers. Keyshawn is also viewed as a homebody which helps Maryland’s chances of keeping him close to home and with the last visit set in stone, the Terps will have a chance to close leading into likely an August commitment.
Four-Star Development
With Maryland well on the outside-looking-in for four-star Dom Nichols, Maryland has remained a player for another local edge rusher in Quinch Orchard (MD) four-star Jaylen Harvey and now, there’s a change of plans as the Terps will get a crack at him on campus with an official visit set for June 23. It’s significant because the Terps have long been in the mix but have overcome some hurdles in Harvey’s camp to ascend within his top group. I’m also hearing that while Penn State is the perceived team to beat, they have their work cut out for them with Harvey’s recruitment still open enough for teams to make their moves. I’m hearing Harvey does have has a top four with Maryland, Penn State, Ohio State and USC in the mix and he’ll officially visit all four next month with the Buckeyes last. “[We] basically told him go where the love is and he picked his four,” one source added on Harvey’s top group. This is a notable development for one of Maryland’s biggest priorities this cycle with the relentless pursuit of outside linebacker coach James Thomas, who visited the school two weeks ago, paying off as he continues to make in-roads in Montgomery County recruiting.
Maryland Battling for Local Targets
-Michigan undoubtedly holds the edge for four-star LB Aaron Chiles and the Wolverines getting the last visit before an expected decision could prove to be too tough to overcome. That concern extends in College Park, but in the same breath, the Terps aren’t out of the race and know that Chiles’ interest in Maryland extends beyond being the hometown school.
-Maryland is also well-positioned for four-star RB Dilin Jones, who is looking at Florida State, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin with buzz that the Terps and Hokies could be battling things out once again. Ohio State is also lurking in his recruitment, while the Buckeyes are also a factor for SFA four-star RB Dejuan Williams. The Seminoles will likely host both Jones and WR on an official visit the same weekend, however, I’m hearing that it’s Maryland who is expected to host Jones the final weekend in June as the Terps remain a big player for the all-purpose back.
-GC WR Elijah Moore has his official visit to Ohio State set for June 18 with Maryland, Michigan, Florida and Florida State in the mix. The Seminoles are a darkhorse in Moore’s recruitment with the Buckeyes catching his eye, but the Terps remain well-positioned thanks to the consistency from OLB coach James Thomas. Maryland’s visit could come just prior to the Buckeyes, though the date remains subject to change.
-QB Khristian Martin is looking at the local schools with Virginia, VT and Maryland battling it out. The vibe is that UVA is in the best spot but Maryland has continued to remain a factor in his recruitment and getting the last visit, the same weekend the staff intends to bring all their top targets to campus, leaves confidence. Maryland has been recruiting Martin dating back to last fall as Brewer and Enos watched him in action while Martin returned to campus, first for a practice then spring game, as OC Josh Gattis has made himself a familiar face in Martin’s recruitment. With Van Buren off the board, Martin is next up and enters June ‘warm’ on the big board.
-Maryland has an official visit on the books for now with WR Mekhai White and are working on one with WR Chanz Wiggins. Wiggins plans to officially visit Duke the weekend of June 23, but Maryland is hoping he changes his mind as the Blue Devils remain a factor in his pursuit. Where White is leaning seems to change by the day with a belief he’s looking for the biggest stage, but Maryland has remained consistent throughout both recruitments as WR coach Gunter Brewer remains involved as the lead recruiter. I could also see White’s OV date changing as there’s a possibility that both White and Wiggins take an official visit to Maryland together.
-Maryland didn’t make the top group for four-star WR Jonathan Paylor, but apparently, that was all part of his plan as the Terps’ have been among the programs recruiting him hardest since his junior season. South Carolina is the undoubted team to beat for Paylor while NC State can’t be overlooked, but Maryland’s relationships have made them a player as the staff was in to check on him last week. There’s confidence from NC State’s end that they can disrupt Paylor’s leaderboard heading into an expected summer commitment.
-It’s a regional battle for Loyola Blakefield (MD) OT Trevor Szymanski with an official visit set to Pitt beginning June 1. Szymanski is also looking to schedule an official visit to Syracuse while offensive line coach Brian Braswell stopped through his school last week as the two sides remain in contact regarding an official visit. Nothing has been set yet, but Maryland could be the last school to host Szymanski as he aims for a late June commitment. If he gets the green light, I expect him to land in College Park.
Keep an eye on…
-Four-star edge rusher Darien Mayo has a top four with Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan and USC battling it out with the Gamecocks and Terps vying for fifth, but I’m hearing that the gap between his top four and his remaining contenders may be too steep to climb with both the Buckeyes and Wolverines doing well in his recruitment. USC, however, may have the longest relationship with Mayo aside from Maryland as area recruiter Roy Manning has prioritized Mayo dating back to last fall. Luckily, the end in Mayo’s recruitment may not be in sight and it’s why Maryland is staying patient with a potential visit. Mayo admitted he could decide this summer, but admittedly without a set timeframe, there’s a vibe that he’ll prolong his recruitment into the fall.
-Maryland made the top seven for WR Javarius Green over the weekend and the staff will make their way to Crest (NC) on Tuesday. Green told IBG he doesn’t have any official visit plans set for Maryland just yet and it may be a bit longer until the 6-foot wideout makes his way back to campus with a potential fall official in play. NC State is the team to beat for Green heading into next month.
-Maryland, Syracuse, USF and Virginia Tech have been discussed for DeMatha (MD) three-star OT Terez Davis but I’m told it’s the Yellow Jackets who have been pressing the hardest and are in best position to land his commitment. Georgia Tech will be up first with an official visit beginning June 9 followed by an official to Virginia Tech beginning June 23. Davis is also looking to set officials to Syracuse, Maryland and USF but I like Georgia Tech heading into June.
Early intel on 2025 priority QB
Spalding (MD) four-star QB Malik Washington already holds an accomplished offer sheet with Arkansas, Boston College, Duke, Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers, VT and WVU already throwing their hats into the ring but intel says that it’s a two-team race early on: Maryland vs. Penn State. The Nittany Lions are in the best position in the early stages largely due to Washington’s familiarity with Penn State’s offensive staff and the confidence from Penn State’s end stems from Washington’s repeated efforts to visit State College over the last year, but Washington visited Maryland for at least two spring practices as head coach Mike Locksley’s offense has his full attention. Spalding won’t be in attendance for Maryland or Penn State’s 7-on-7 next month, but I’d expect the four-star quarterback to make it back to both schools this summer while he’ll remain active with Team Melo on the AAU circuit.
OL Recruiting Heating Up
Hours after missing on ECU guard Nishad Strother to Oregon, Maryland landed a big commitment out of the portal with former Elon guard Michael Purcell jumping in the fold. Purcell was among several lineman to transfer into Duke in January only to depart after spring ball, and for Maryland, that never mattered. What did matter were the six seasons and 30-plus career starts at center where he’ll be given a chance to anchor a new-look offensive line.
Purcell isn’t the only one in the mix as the staff has a pair of juco targets they’re steadily in the mix for. Maryland pulled the trigger on an offer to northern Virginia native and Coffeyville tackle Kevin Kalonji and he has plans to visit campus. Kalonji, who has three years to play two, tells IBG he will officially visit Houston beginning May 22 then Maryland beginning May 24 and is looking at additional visits to Ole Miss, South Carolina, Cal and North Texas. I’m also hearing that coveted teammate and interior lineman Amaury Wiggins is also expected to visit Maryland as safeties coach Zac Spavital stopped through Coffeyville last week to keep the Terps in the mix. Wiggins could give Maryland an answer to the void at left guard but it’s far from a layup as Miami has already hosted him while Texas A&M, LSU, Mississippi State and Penn State are among the long list of Power Five schools to extend offers thus far.
Related Links
Mady Traore announces transfer to Maryland basketball
2025 four-star RB Iverson Howard shares latest on visits (+)
Former Elon lineman Michael Purcell transferring to Maryland
Three schools standing out to Spalding LB Keyshawn Flowers (+)
Four-star LB Gabe Williams talks contenders, visit plans (+)
Good Counsel WR Elijah Moore has one OV set, four more in the mix (+)
